Adjustabale display mount

ABSTRACT

A mounting system for mounting a display device to a surface, the mounting system adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom to selectively position and orientate the attached device relative to the mounting surface and/or other collocated display devices. According to various embodiments, a surface bracket is configured to attach to a mounting surface and an arm assembly operatively couples the surface bracket with a mount carriage. A mount bracket is movably coupled to the mount carriage and is selectively movable in a plane substantially parallel to the surface. A plurality of device bracket assemblies are coupled to the mount bracket. Each of the device bracket assemblies is selectively movable to translate, pivot and tilt the attached device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/704,777, filed Feb. 12, 2010. The contents of this application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mounting systems for devices.More particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable mountingsystems for mounting a flat-panel display and similar devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to provide a background or context to theinvention that is recited in the claims. The description herein mayinclude concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily onesthat have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unlessotherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is notprior art to the description and claims in this application and is notadmitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

In recent years, flat panel televisions have become enormously popularin both commercial and residential sectors. As the prices for plasma andliquid crystal display (LCD) flat panel displays have continued to fall,and the quality for the same devices have improved, more and morebusinesses and individuals have purchased such devices for both home andbusiness purposes.

One of the advantages of flat panel television units that customers havefound particular appealing is their relatively low thickness. Becauseconventional “tube” televisions have a relatively large depth, thedisplay options for such devices are quite limited. In the residentialsetting, most users require a television stand or large entertainmentcenter to store the television. Such stands or entertainment centers cantake up significant floor space, which is often undesirable. In thecommercial or educational setting, users will often install largeoverhead mounting systems that can contain the television.

Flat panel displays, on the other hand, may be mounted directly to awall or other surface. With these considerations in mind, there havebeen various attempts to develop systems that address mounting of flatpanel display devices. Various adjustable display mounts have beendeveloped that permit adjustment of the position and/or orientation ofthe attached display in various degrees of freedom. Some of theseadjustable mounts permit a user to move aspects of the mount toreposition the location of a display in space relative to a mountingsurface. Other mounts allow an attached display to pivot about an axisand/or provide for adjustment of the rotational (i.e., skew) and/or tiltorientation of the display. Such display mounts enable gross positioningof a display device to obtain a preferred viewing position andorientation for the device relative to a viewer.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments comprise systems for mounting a display device, suchas an LCD and plasma flat panel display. The mounting systems areselectively adjustable to provide adjustment of the position andorientation of an attached display in several degrees of freedom. Themounting systems are configured to enable a user to make the variousadjustments without the use of tools. Instead, the position andorientation of the attached display may be readily modulated by handoperation of a plurality of positioners that alone and/or in combinationenable independent translation and rotation of the display relative tothe mounting surface. Adjustability of the mounting system may be usedto obtain an optimal viewing position/orientation of the attacheddisplay, as well as to overcome misalignment of the system when it isattached to the mounting surface and/or variation in the mountingsurface.

The adjustability provided by the mounting systems according to variousembodiments may be used to precisely align and orientate an attacheddisplay device in multiple degrees of freedom, making the systemsparticularly well suited for use in concert to mount a plurality ofdisplay devices on a surface in an array such as in a video wallapplication. Accordingly, each display in the video wall may beorientated and aligned relative to the mounting surface and/or eachother to provide for a uniformly positioned and orientated array ofdisplay devices or to achieve particular position/orientation effects.

The mounting systems according to various embodiments have a relativelylow profile, allowing the attached display to be mounted proximate themounting surface and immediately adjacent to other displays in videowall applications. To permit repositioning and reorientating of theattached display and to service the display, a portion of the mountingsystem may be pulled out from the mounting surface such that the displayis extended away from the mounting surface. Access to the variouspositioners of the mounting system is provided by placing the mountingsystem in this extended orientation. Additionally, access to variouspositioners of adjacently located mounting systems may also be provided.

In one set of embodiments, a display mount for mounting a display deviceto a surface comprises an adjustable display mount for mounting adisplay device to a mounting surface. The adjustable display mountcomprises a surface bracket configured to operatively attach to amounting surface and a first extension arm assembly operativelyconnected to the surface bracket that is selectively positionablebetween a retracted position and an extended position. The adjustabledisplay mount further includes a mount carriage operatively connected tothe extension arm assembly opposite the surface bracket. The mountcarriage defines a carriage plane that is selectively positionablebetween a viewing position, where the carriage plane is substantiallyparallel to the mounting surface, and a service position where thecarriage plane is angled in relation to the mounting surface. A mountbracket is adjustably coupled to the mount carriage and is selectivelymovable in a plane parallel to the carriage plane. A plurality of devicebracket assemblies are operatively connected to the mount bracket andconfigured for operative attachment to the display device. Each of theplurality of device bracket assemblies includes a device bracket portionthat is selectively movable in a direction substantially perpendicularto the carriage plane.

In another embodiment, a display mount for adjustably mounting a displaydevice having a display screen to a mounting surface comprises a mountcarriage configured to operatively attach to the mounting surface and amount bracket movably coupled to the mount carriage. A first mountpositioner and a second mount positioner are each coupled to the mountcarriage and selectively actable on the mount bracket. The display mountfurther comprises a first device bracket assembly and a second devicebracket assembly. Each of the first device bracket assembly and thesecond device bracket assembly comprise a mount engagement bracketselectively engageable with the mount bracket, a device bracket movablycoupled to the mount engagement bracket and configured to operativelyattach to the display device, and a first device bracket positioner anda second device bracket positioner selectively actable on the devicebracket. The mount bracket is selectively movable in a first degree offreedom and a second degree of freedom by operation of at least one ofthe first mount positioner and the second mount positioner. Each of thedevice brackets is selectively movable in a third degree freedom and afourth degree of freedom by operation of at least one of the firstdevice bracket positioner and the second device bracket positioner.

In yet another embodiment, a system to adjust the position andorientation of at least one display device relative to a mountingsurface comprises at least one display mount. The at least one displaymount includes a mount carriage configured to operatively attach to themounting surface and a mount bracket operatively coupled to the mountcarriage and selectively movable in relation to the mount carriage. Aplurality of device bracket assemblies are operatively coupled to themount bracket. Each of the device bracket assemblies includes a devicebracket having a device surface configured to operatively attach to adisplay device. The device bracket is selectively movable in relation tothe mount bracket. Each of the device brackets is movable such that thedevice surface is independently translatable and rotatable in relationto the mount bracket.

These and other features of the invention, together with theorganization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent fromthe following detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numeralsthroughout the several drawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mounting system constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the mounting system of FIG. 1, showingthe mounting system in an extended position, and FIG. 2B is a detailedperspective view showing a portion of the mounting system of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a reverse perspective view of the mounting system of FIG. 1,showing the mounting system in an extended and service position with anattached display device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting system of FIG. 1, showingthe mounting system in a retracted viewing position;

FIG. 5 is a right side cross-sectional view of the mounting system ofFIG. 1, showing the mounting system in an extended and service position;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a mount carriage, a mount bracket, and apair of device bracket assemblies of the mounting system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the mounting system of FIG. 1, showing themounting system in an extended and service position;

FIG. 8A is left side view showing a portion of the mount carriage, amount bracket, and a device bracket assembly of the mounting system ofFIG. 1, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the portion of themount carriage, the mount bracket, and the device bracket assembly ofFIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a device bracket assembly included in themounting system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the device bracket assembly of FIG. 9,FIG. 10B is a rear plan view of the device bracket assembly of FIG. 9,FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the device bracket assembly ofFIG. 9, FIG. 10D is a perspective view of another embodiment of thedevice bracket assembly of FIG. 9, FIG. 10E is a rear plan view of thedevice bracket assembly of FIG. 10D, and FIG. 10F is a cross-sectionalview of the device bracket assembly of FIG. 10D;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a plurality of the mountingdevices of FIG. 1 with attached display devices arranged in an array toform a video wall;

FIG. 12 is a left side view showing the plurality of mounting devices ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a front plan view showing an arrangement of a plurality ofthe surface brackets of the mounting devices of FIG. 1 arranged in anarray and engaged by a plurality of spacers;

FIGS. 14A-14D are perspective views showing various configurations ofspacers usable in accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15A is an isometric view of a mount bracket constructed accordingto a particular embodiment; FIG. 15B is a top plan view of the mountbracket of FIG. 15A; FIG. 15C is a bottom plan view of the mount bracketof FIG. 15A; and FIG. 15D is a front elevational view of the mountbracket of FIG. 15A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate a mounting system 50 constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting system 50 isconfigured to attach a display device to a mounting surface such as awall or other surface. Various portions of the mounting system 50 areselectively movable in relation to each other such that the position andorientation of the attached display may be adjusted in a plurality ofdimensions or degrees of freedom. The various features of the mountingsystem 50 provide for independent control of translational androtational degrees of freedom of the attached display relative to themounting surface. Through adjustment of the various features of themounting system 50, optimization of the position and orientation of theattached display can be achieved relative to a mounting surface and/oradjacent displays when the mounting system 50 is used in the context ofa video wall application comprising an array of display devices.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the mounting system 50 comprises a surfacebracket 100 configured for operative attachment to a mounting surface,an extension bracket assembly 200, and at least one arm assembly 150movably coupling the surface bracket 100 with the extension bracketassembly 200. The extension bracket assembly 200 is selectivelytranslatable in relation to the surface bracket 100 along an axissubstantially perpendicular to the mounting surface via operation of thearm assembly 150 between a retracted position and an extended position.The mounting system 50 further includes a mount carriage 300 rotatablycoupled to the extension bracket assembly 200 and a mount bracket 400movably coupled to the mount carriage 300. The mount carriage 300 isrotatable between a viewing position and a service position about anaxis substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mount bracket400 is selectively movable in relation to the mount carriage 300 in aplane substantially parallel to the mounting surface when the mountcarriage 300 is in the viewing position. The mounting system 50 furtherincludes one or more of a device bracket assembly 500 configured foroperative attachment to a display device 60 and engageable with themount bracket 400. A portion of the device bracket assembly 500 isselectively movable out of a plane substantially parallel to themounting surface when the mount carriage 300 is in the viewing position.

The surface bracket 100 includes an attachment surface 101 configuredfor securement to a mounting surface such as a wall or othersubstantially vertical surface. The attachment surface 101 includes aplurality of surface bracket openings 102 to receive connecting elements(not shown) such as bolts, screws, and/or other fasteners, that may beused to attach the surface bracket 100 to the mounting surface. Asshown, the plurality of surface bracket openings 102 may comprise aplurality of horizontal slots for engagement with, for example,regularly spaced wall studs within the mounting surface. The surfacebracket 100 may further include a plurality of spacer engagementfeatures 120. The plurality of spacer engagement features 120 may bedisposed proximate the periphery of the surface bracket 100. As shown inFIG. 1, each of the plurality of spacer engagement features 120comprises an aperture in the surface bracket 100. As explained morefully below, the apertures are configured to receive a portion of aspacer that may be used to separate and align a plurality of themounting systems 50 with respect to one another on the mounting surface.The plurality of spacer engagement features 120 are not limited to thedepicted apertures, but may be otherwise constructed and may include atab, protrusion, or other features.

A plurality of engagement features are associated with the surfacebracket 100 that movably couple the arm assembly 150 to the surfacebracket 100. As depicted in FIG. 1, the mounting system 50 includes apair of the arm assemblies 150 movably coupled at each end of thesurface bracket 100. However, in other embodiments more or fewer of thearm assemblies 150 may be employed. The arm assembly 150 is also notlimited to the depicted embodiment, but can comprise otherconfigurations apparent to those in the art. Still further, in variousembodiments, the arm assembly 150 can be eliminated. Each of thedepicted arm assemblies 150 comprise a first arm 151 and a second arm152 pivotally coupled to each other by a pin 153 proximate therespective midpoints of the first arm 151 and the second arm 152. Asshown in FIG. 1, each of the first arms 151 is pivotally coupled at afirst pivot 103 located on a flange 104 extending substantially normalfrom the attachment surface 101 at each end. Each of the second arms 152is slidingly coupled with the surface bracket 100. As depicted in FIGS.1 and 2, the second arm 152 is slidingly coupled with a second arm guide105 associated with an arm engagement bracket 106 coupled to theattachment surface 101. As shown, the second arm guide 105 comprises anelongated slot in the arm engagement bracket 106. However, in otherembodiments, the second arm guide 105 may comprise other features suchas a rail, protrusion, or other guiding structure and may be associatedwith, for example, the arm engagement bracket 106, attachment surface101, and/or the flange 104.

As explained in greater detail below, the arm assembly 150 expands andretracts in relation to the surface bracket 100 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the attachment surface 101 with thesimultaneous rotation of the first arm 151 with the first pivot 103 andsliding of the second arm 152 with the second arm guide 105. A portionof the mounting system 50 may thus be selectively positioned between anextended position where the mount bracket 400 is extended away from thesurface bracket 100, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 3, and a refractedposition depicted in FIG. 4, where the mount bracket 400 is proximatethe surface bracket 100. The retracted position may be a viewingposition and the extended position may be a service position. Theservice position provides access to portions of the mounting system 50and allows for adjustment of the position and orientation of theattached display device 60, or as later explained, an adjacent displaydevice. The service orientation also provides access to the rear of theattached display device 60 for connecting/disconnecting various cablesto the device and/or conducting other service activities.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 5, the surface bracket 100 may furtherinclude one or more arm lock assemblies 110. Each arm lock assembly 110is selectively engageable with a portion of the mounting system 50 whenin the retracted position. Various configurations of the arm lockassembly 110 may be constructed. For example, and as shown in FIG. 5,the arm lock assembly 110 is operatively connected to surface bracket100 proximate one of the arm assemblies 150 and includes a movable latch111 that is selectively engageable with the pin 153 that pivotallycouples the first arm 151 and the second arm 152. The movable latch 111is slidingly coupled to a latch plate 112 that is connected to theflange 104. The movable latch 111 is selectively movable relative to thelatch plate 112 between an engaged position and a disengaged position.The arm lock assembly 110 may include a lock biasing element 113 thaturges the movable latch 111 into the engaged position to preventinadvertent release of the pin 153 when engaged. In the depictedembodiment, the lock biasing element 113 comprises a spring.

The arm lock assembly 110 may further include one or more of a releaselever 114 configured to disengage the movable latch from the pin 153.The release lever 114 comprises an elongated member coupled to themovable latch 111 and extending to a location proximate the periphery ofthe surface bracket 100. The surface bracket 100 may include a releaselever opening 107 along a top and/or bottom edge configured to permitthe release lever 114 to pass outside the surface bracket 100 for easieraccess to an operator. With reference to FIG. 2B, a security fastener115 associated with the release lever 114 may further be included. Asshown, the security fastener 115 is received by the release lever 114and is selectively engageable with the surface bracket 100. When engagedwith the surface bracket 100, the security fastener 115 substantiallyprevents operation of the release lever 114, thereby maintaining themounting system 50 in the retracted position. Thus, the securityfastener 115 may serve as a theft deterrent device to preventdisengagement of the display device from the mounting system 50. Inother embodiments, the release lever 114 may be accessible via the endof the surface bracket 100 proximate the flange 104.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extension bracket assembly 200 is coupledto the surface bracket 100 via the arm assembly 150. An end pillar 201is located at each end of the extension bracket assembly 200 andcomprises an elongated member generally having a “C” shapedcross-section. A cross-bar 202 operatively connects the end pillars 201.Each of the end pillars 201 is associated with an arm assembly 150. Thefirst arm 151 is slidingly associated with a first arm guide 203opposite the first pivot 103. As depicted, the first arm guide 203comprises an elongated slot disposed in a lower portion of the endpillar 201. However, similar to the second arm guide 105, the first armguide 203 may be otherwise constructed. The second arm 152 is pivotallycoupled to an upper portion of the end pillar 201 at a second pivot 205opposite the second arm guide 105. It will be appreciated, that variousarrangements of the arm assembly 150 may be constructed, includingreversing the configuration of the first pivot 103, the second pivot205, the first arm guide 203 and the second arm guide 105 with respectto the surface bracket 100 and the extension bracket assembly 200.

At least one of the end pillars 201 may include an extension lock 206selectively engageable with the associated arm assembly 150 when themounting system 50 is in the extended position. For example, FIG. 1shows the extension lock 206 engaged with a portion of the first arm 151proximate the first arm guide 203. As depicted, the extension lock 206comprises a hook engageable with an arm carrier 155 received by thefirst arm guide 203. When engaged with the arm carrier 155, theextension lock 206 prevents sliding of the first arm 151 and, thussubstantially prevents the mounting system 50 from being moved from theextended position to the retracted position. The extension bracketassembly 200 is readily translated toward the surface when the extensionlock 206 is disengaged from the arm assembly 150 such as shown in FIG.4.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the extension bracket assembly200 may further include a service strut 210. At one end, the servicestrut 210 is rotatably coupled to the cross-bar 202. The opposite end ofthe service strut 210 is slidingly coupled to the mount carriage 300 viaa service strut carrier 211 associated with a service strut guide 301disposed on a central pillar 315 of the mount carriage 300. As shown inFIGS. 2A and 4, the service strut 210 is substantially vertical when themount carriage 300 is in the viewing position and extended position. Onthe other hand, when the mounting system 50 is in the extended positionand when the lower portion of the mount carriage 300 is lifted to placethe mount carriage 300 in the service position of FIGS. 3 and 5, theservice strut carrier 211 guides the service strut 210 to asubstantially horizontal orientation. In the substantially horizontalorientation, the service strut 210 maintains the mount carriage 300 inthe elevated service position such that various adjustments to themounting system 50 and/or the attached display device 60 may be made.The extension bracket assembly 200 may further include a locking pin212. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking pin 212 is selectively engageablewith the mount carriage 300. When engaged, the locking pin 212 preventsthe mount carriage 300 from being moved into the service position.

The mount carriage 300 is rotatably coupled to an upper portion of theextension bracket assembly 200. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 7, each endof the mount carriage 300 includes an engagement portion 313 that isassociated with an end pillar 201 of the extension bracket assembly 200.As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the lower portion of the mount carriage 300is selectively rotatable between a lowered position that is the viewingposition when the mounting system 50 is in a retracted position and theelevated service position. Thus, the mount carriage 300 is rotated withrespect to the extension bracket assembly 200 about the engagementportions 313. In the viewing position the mount carriage 300 defines aplane substantially parallel to the mounting surface. In the serviceposition, the lower portion of the mount carriage 300 is rotated awayfrom and raised from the extension bracket assembly 200 about an axissubstantially parallel to the mounting surface.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6, the mount carriage 300 generally comprisesa frame 302 having end portions 303 coupled by a lower frame member 304and an upper frame member 305. The frame 302 defines a carriage opening306 that at least partially receives the mount bracket 400. The carriageopening 306 generally is larger than the mount bracket 400. That is, thecarriage opening 306 has a greater length and width than the respectivelength and width of the mount bracket 400. As such, and as shown in FIG.6, an adjustment gap 420 is generally provided about the periphery ofthe mount bracket 400 between portions of the frame 302 of the mountcarriage 300. However, in other embodiments, the configuration may bereversed such that the mount carriage 300 is substantially receivedwithin the mount bracket 400. In still other embodiments, the mountcarriage 300 and mount bracket 400 may otherwise be coupled. Forexample, the mount bracket 400 may be positioned in front and/or behindthe mount carriage 300.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 8A and 8B, the mount bracket 400 is movablycoupled to the mount carriage 300 by a plurality of connecting elementassemblies 314. Accordingly, the mount bracket 400 effectively floatsand is movable within the carriage opening 306 limited by the adjustmentgap 420. As such, the location of the mount bracket 400 is selectivelymovably with respect to the mount carriage 300 substantially in theplane defined by the carriage opening 306. The location of the mountbracket 400 within the carriage opening 306 is selectively adjustable byoperation of a mount positioner 320. As explained in more detail below,the mounting system 50 includes one or more of the mount positioners 320movably coupled to the mount carriage 300 and actable on the mountbracket 400.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, each of the connecting elementassemblies 314 comprise a connecting element 307 such as a bolt or otherfastener, a bushing 308 and a slide 309. The frame 302 includes aplurality of carriage guides 310 configured to engage a portion of theconnecting element assembly 314. In the depicted embodiment, theplurality of carriage guides 310 are openings located on the endportions 303 proximate each of the four corners of the frame 302. Theconnecting element 307 is secured to the mount bracket 400 and receivedby the carriage guides 310. The slide 309 includes a shank portion 311that receives the connecting element 307 and a flange portion 312 thatengages the end portion 303 and retains the connecting element assembly314 in the carriage guide 310. The bushing 308 is disposed between theend portion 303 and the mount bracket 400, receives a portion of theshank portion 311, and fills at least a portion of the region defined bythe adjustment gap 420. The bushing 308 may be constructed of aresilient material that is deformable to permit lateral and rotationaladjustment of the mount bracket 400 with respect to the mount carriage300.

The configuration of the connecting element assemblies 314 allows fortranslation and rotation of the mount bracket 400 within the carriageopening 306 substantially in the plane defined by the carriage opening306. As shown in FIG. 8A, each of the plurality of carriage guides 310may comprise elongated slots that permit the connecting element assembly314 to slide, thereby allowing vertical adjustment of the mount bracket400 with respect to the mount carriage 300. Accordingly, the verticalposition of the mount bracket 400 and an attached display device may beadjusted by sliding the connecting element assemblies 314 relative tothe carriage guides 310, thereby moving the mount bracket 400 relativeto mount carriage 300. Additionally, the rotational orientation, orskew, of the mount bracket 400 and the attached display device may beadjusted by interaction of one or more of the connecting elementassemblies 314 relative to the carriage mount 300. The connectingelement assemblies 314 may also be used to secure the lateral locationof the mount bracket 400. As shown, the connecting element 307 is freelyrotatable within the flange portion 312 and is threadedly engaged with aside portion 402 of the mount bracket 400. By adjusting one or more ofthe connecting elements 307, the mount bracket 400 may be drawn towardan end portion 303 and may also be substantially secured in relation tothe mount carriage 300 by adjusting a plurality of the connectingelements 307.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the mount bracket 400 generallycomprises a frame with side portions 402 connected by a lower channel403 and an upper channel 404. The upper channel 404 includes an upperengagement member 405 that runs along a length of the upper channel 404.Similarly, the lower channel 403 includes a lower engagement member 406.FIG. 6 depicts a pair of the mount positioners 320 associated with thelower frame member 304 and disposed proximate the end portions 303. Eachof the mount positioners 320 includes a handle 321 attached to one endof a positioning shaft 322 and a positioning interface 323 coupled tothe opposite end of the positioning shaft 322. The positioning shaft 322is threadedly engaged with an opening in the lower frame member 304.Accordingly, rotation of the handle 321 turns the positioning shaft 322and translates the positioning interface 323 in a substantially verticaldirection in relation to the mount carriage 300.

By operation of the mount positioner 320, the positioning interface 323is thus actable with a lower surface 401 of the mount bracket 400 toselectively move the mount bracket 400. The mount bracket 400 is movablein a first degree of freedom that translates the mount bracket 400substantially parallel to the plane of the carriage opening 406 byoperation of the pair of mount positioners 320. As shown in FIGS. 1 and6, the first degree of freedom is orientated substantially vertically.The mount positioners 302 may also be operated to move the mount bracket400 in a second degree of freedom that is a rotation substantiallyparallel to the plane of the carriage opening 306. Rotation of the mountbracket 400 is achieved by operating one of the mount positioners 320 oroppositely operating the mount positioners 320 such that one of thepositing interfaces 323 is displaced away from the lower frame member304 and the other positioning interface 323 is displaced toward thelower frame member 304. By operation of at least one mount positioner320, the mount bracket 400 is rotated in a plane substantially parallelto the carriage opening 406. When the mounting system 50 is in theviewing position of FIG. 4, this rotation is substantially parallel tothe mounting surface and adjusts the rotation or skew of the attacheddisplay device. The positioning interfaces 323 may remain engaged withthe lower surface 401 to assist in maintaining the position of the mountbracket 400.

Thus, by adjustment of one or more of the mount positioners 320, thevertical position and/or or the skew, i.e., rotation of the mountbracket 400 in the plane of the carriage opening 306, may be altered.For example, in the depicted embodiment that includes the pair of mountpositioners 320, operation of the two mount positioners 320 will resultin a substantially vertical translation of the mount bracket 400 inrelation to the mount carriage 300. It should be noted that adjustmentof the two mount positioners 320 need not be simultaneous and thatsubstantially vertical adjustment may be achieved by sequentialadjustment of each of the mount positioners 320. Operation of one of themount positioners 320 will result in tipping, either upper or down,depending on the direction of rotation of the handle 321, of the side ofthe mount bracket 400 proximate the mount positioner 320 that isadjusted, imparting a rotational skew to the mount bracket 400.Operation of the mount positioners 320 may be accomplished by hand andprovides toolless adjustment of the vertical position and rotationsubstantially in the plane of the carriage opening 306 such that theposition and orientation of the attached display is readily changeablein the first and the second degrees of freedom without the need fortools.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10A-10F, the mounting system 50 furtherincludes at least one device bracket assembly 500. The device bracketassembly 500 defines a principal axis that is orientated in asubstantially vertical direction when the mounting system 50 is in theviewing position. The device bracket assembly 500 includes a mountengagement bracket 501 and a device bracket 502 movably coupled to themount engagement bracket 501. The mount engagement bracket 501 isselectively engageable with the mount bracket 400. The device bracket502 is configured for operative attachment to the display device. Themount engagement bracket 501 includes a mount surface 503 and mountbracket sides 504 that extend substantially perpendicular from the mountsurface 503. The mount bracket sides 504 may include a plurality ofengagement portions 505. Each of the plurality of engagement portions505 is configured to engage one of the upper engagement member 405 andthe lower engagement member 406. In an embodiment, each of the pluralityof engagement portions 505 comprises a hook slidingly engageable withone of the upper engagement member 405 and the lower engagement member406. Lateral adjustment of one or more of the device bracket assemblies500 along the upper engagement member 405 permits for horizontaladjustment of the position of the attached display device and furtheradapts the mounting system 50 for attachment to display devices ofvarious sizes and/or mounting configurations.

Each of the device bracket assemblies 500 may be substantially fixed inrelation to the mount bracket 400 by engagement of a security element514 with the mount bracket 400. As depicted in FIG. 9, the mountengagement bracket 501 includes a security element opening 518configured to receive the security element 514. As shown in FIGS. 9 and10A-10F, the security element 514 comprises a bolt threadedly engaged inthe security element opening 518. However, in other embodiments thesecurity element may comprise a latch, locking member, pin or otherfeatures and combinations thereof that may be used to selectively engagethe mount bracket 400 or other portion of the mounting system 10. Thesecurity element 514 is selectively engageable with a periphery portion407 exposed on the lower surface 401 of the mount carriage 400 depictedin FIG. 8A. The device bracket assembly 500 is substantially preventedfrom inadvertent dislodgment from the carriage mount 400 or movement byengagement of the security element 514 with the periphery portion 407.

The device bracket 502 includes a device surface 506 and device bracketsides 507 extending substantially perpendicular from the device surface506. The display device may be mounted to the device surface 506, whichcan include a plurality of device openings 508 configured to receiveconnecting elements engageable with the display device. Alternatively,an adapter plate (not shown) may be attached to the device and coupledto the device surface 506. A plurality of device bracket guides 509 aredisposed on the device bracket sides 507 in a substantially horizontalorientation. As shown in FIG. 9, pairs of device bracket guides 509 areoppositely located on the device bracket sides 507 proximate an upperportion 512 and a lower portion 513 of the device bracket 502.

With reference to FIGS. 10A-10F, each of the plurality of device bracketguides 509 comprises an elongated slot configured to engage a bracketcarrier assembly 510 that movably couples the device bracket 502 withthe mount engagement bracket 501. Each of the bracket carrier assemblies510 includes a bracket connecting element 511 that slidingly engages atleast one of the device bracket guides 509. As shown, each of thebracket connecting elements 511 is threadedly engaged with one of themount bracket sides 504 of the mount engagement bracket 501. However, inother embodiments, the bracket connecting element 511 may be rotatablyor slidably coupled with the mount engagement bracket 501. In variousembodiments, the bracket connecting element 511 may span the width ofthe mount engagement bracket 501 and be associated with the pair ofdevice bracket guides 509 oppositely located on the device bracket sides507.

The position of the device bracket 502 is thus selectively movable inrelation to the mount engagement bracket 501 as constrained by themovement of the bracket carrier assemblies 510. With reference to FIGS.9 and 10C, the device bracket assembly 500 may further include a bracketbiasing element 515 retained between the device surface 506 and themount surface 503. As depicted, a pair of bracket biasing elements 515are included, with one bracket biasing element 515 disposed proximatethe upper portion 512 and the other disposed proximate the lower portion513 of the device bracket 502. In an embodiment, each of the bracketbiasing elements 515 comprises a compression spring. In anotherembodiment of the device bracket assembly 500 (depicted in FIGS.10D-10F), the device bracket assembly 500 includes a retention member519 coupled to the mount engagement bracket 501. As shown, each of thedevice bracket assemblies 500 includes a pair of the retention members519. Each of the retention members 519 is associated with a bracketpositioner 516, which, as explained below, operates to adjust theposition of the device bracket 502. In this embodiment, the bracketbiasing elements 515 described in relation to the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 9-10C may be eliminated.

The device bracket assembly 500 further includes a pair of bracketpositioners 516 associated with the device bracket 502 and the mountengagement bracket 501. In the depicted embodiment, each of the bracketpositioners 516 comprises a rod fixedly attached at one end to thedevice bracket 502 and slidingly received through an opening in themount engagement bracket 501. The bracket positioner 516 may furtherinclude a bracket positioner handle 517 threadedly attached to the rodopposite the device bracket 502 and actable on the mount engagementbracket 501. Rotation of the bracket positioner handle 517 causes thebracket positioner handle 517 to move along the bracket positioner 516toward or away, depending on the direction of rotation, the devicebracket 502.

Movement of the bracket positioner handle 517 toward the device bracket502 causes the bracket positioner 516 to be drawn through the opening ofthe mount engagement bracket 501, thereby decreasing the distancebetween at least a portion of the mount engagement bracket 501 and thedevice bracket 502. Movement of the bracket positioner handle 517 awayfrom the device bracket 502 causes the bracket biasing element 515 inthe embodiment of FIGS. 9-10C to displace the device bracket 502 awayfrom the mount engagement bracket 501, thereby increasing the distancebetween at least a portion of the mount engagement bracket 501 and thedevice bracket 502. Similarly, in the embodiment depicted in FIGS.10D-10F, the retention member 519 operates on the bracket positionerhandle 517 associated with the respective bracket positioner 516 toadjustably move the device bracket 502. The retention member 519includes a retention member opening 520 configured to permit passage ofthe rod of the bracket positioner 516 during adjustment of the bracketpositioner handle 517.

The described embodiment permits the device brackets 502 and an attacheddisplay device to be moved in a third degree of freedom that is atranslation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the carriageopening 306. Operation of one or more of the bracket positioners 516also moves the attached display device in additional degrees of freedom,including pivoting and tilting the display device relative to thecarriage opening 306 or the mounting surface. Translation of theattached display device is accomplished by moving the upper portion 512and the lower portion 513 of each of the device brackets 502 in the samedirection such that the distance between the device surface 506 and themount surface 503 is altered. As described above, translation may beaccomplished by rotating each of the four bracket positioners 516 a, 516b, 516 c and 516 d depicted in FIG. 1 to cause each of the devicebrackets 502 of the device bracket assemblies 500 to move relative tothe respective mount engagement brackets 501. Accordingly, a displaydevice attached to the device bracket assemblies 500 is selectivelymovable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mountingsurface, i.e., substantially parallel to the Z-axis of FIG. 1.

The attached display device is movable in a fourth degree of freedomthat pivots the display about an axis that is substantially parallel tothe mounting surface and substantially parallel to the principal axis ofthe device bracket assembly 500, i.e., substantially parallel to theY-axis of FIG. 1. Pivoting of the attached display may be accomplishedby operating the bracket positioners 516 of one of the two devicebracket assemblies 500 as described above in translating the attacheddisplay device. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, operating theleft bracket positioners 516 a and 516 b of the left side device bracketassembly 500 in the same orientation, causes the device bracket 502 totranslate substantially in the Z direction, pivoting the left portion ofthe attached display either outwardly or inwardly with respect to themounting surface. Depending on the state of the other device bracketassembly 500, additional pivoting of the display may be accomplished byadjustment of the right bracket positioners 516 c and 516 d of the rightside device bracket assembly 500 to translate the respective devicebracket 502 in a direction substantially opposite of the translationapplied to the left device bracket 502. By the above describedadjustments, an attached display device may thus be pivoted about anaxis substantially parallel to the Y-axis.

The attached display device is also movable in a fifth degree of freedomthat tilts the display about an axis that is substantially parallel tothe surface and substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of thedevice bracket assembly 500, i.e., parallel to the X-axis of FIG. 1. Forexample, the display device may be downwardly tilted by operation, inthe same orientation, each of the upper bracket positioners 516 a and516 c of the device bracket assemblies 500, thereby moving each of theupper portions 512 of the respective device brackets 502. By thisadjustment, each of the upper portions 512 are moved outwardly away fromthe mount engagement brackets 501, thereby tilting the attached displaydevice downwardly with respect to the mounting surface. Additional tiltmay be accomplished by oppositely adjusting each of the lower bracketpositioners 516 b and 516 d to move each of the lower portions 513toward the mounting surface. Upward tilt of the attached display deviceabout an axis substantially parallel the X-axis is accomplished byreversing the above adjustments. Additional adjustment of the positionand orientation of the attached display device may be achieved byadjusting one or more of the bracket positioners 516 a, 516 b, 516 cand/or 516 d to impart various combinations of translation, tilt andpivot and off-axis rotation to the attached display device.

The mounting system 50 may be used in a single display mountingarrangement. The plurality of positioning features of the mountingsystem 50 described above, including the mount positioners 320 and thebracket positioners 516, provide precise control over the orientationand position of the attached display device in various degrees offreedom relative to the mounting surface. Additionally, a plurality ofthe mounting systems 50, each configured for attachment to a displaydevice, may be arranged in an array to form a video wall comprising aplurality of display devices. FIGS. 11 and 12 depict an exemplaryembodiment of a video wall with nine display devices arranged in athree-by-three array. In the depicted embodiment, each of the ninedisplays 60 is attached to a mounting system 50 that is secured to themounting surface 70. The centrally located mounting system 50 a is inthe extended and service position.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, one or more spacers 121 may bedisposed between adjacent surface brackets 100 arranged in a video wallarray. Each of the spacers 121 may be used in orientating the pluralityof mounting systems 50 relative to each other on the mounting surface.In particular, the spacers 121 may facilitate positioning and aligningadjacent surface brackets 100 or other feature of the mounting system 50associated with the mounting surface. The spacers 121 may furtherinclude one or more spacer openings 124 to receive fasteners forattachment of the spacers 121 to the mounting surface. The spacers 121may include a plurality of mount engagement features 122 that areconfigured to interface with the spacer engagement features 120 locatedon the surface bracket 100. As shown, the plurality of mount engagementfeatures 122 comprise tabs extending from a periphery 123 of the spacer121. However, in other embodiments the mount engagement features 122 mayinclude openings, pins or other elements that are configured toassociate with the spacer engagement features 120. In the depictedembodiment, the tabs of the spacer 121 are received by the spacerengagement feature 120 and a portion of the periphery 123 engages theedge of the surface bracket 100. As shown in FIG. 13, a pair of thespacers 121 may each be engaged with vertically and horizontallyadjacent surface brackets 100.

The arrangement depicted in FIG. 13 separates the adjacent surfacebrackets 100 by a predefined horizontal distance and a predefinedvertical distance and orientates the adjacent surface brackets 100 in aparallel configuration. FIGS. 14A-14D (not to scale) depict severalvariations of the spacer 121. As shown, the spacers 121 may beconstructed to have various lengths and/or heights to effect thepredefined horizontal and predefined vertical distances between thesurface brackets 100. Various embodiments of the spacer 121 may beconstructed having length and height dimensions that correlate withstandard display sizes to facilitate installation of a video wall havinguniform spacing, and in various embodiments, minimal spacing, betweenthe adjacent displays 60.

The positioning features of the plurality of mounting systems 50 may beadjusted while the mounting system is in the extended and/or the servicepositions to precisely position and orientate each of the displays 60 inthe array with respect to each other. For example, variations inrelative attachment position of the various mounting systems 50 on themounting surface, as well as variations in the mounting surface 70itself and/or other variations, may be overcome via adjustment of thepositioning features. Thus, by installing a plurality of the mountingsystems 50, a video wall may be efficiently erected and adjusted toprovide a uniformly orientated and positioned array of the displaydevices 60. Still further, the positioning features of the plurality ofmounting systems 50 may be utilized to create specialized mountingeffects for a video wall such as translating, pivoting and/or tiltingone or more display devices 60 or an array row and/or column of thedisplay devices 60 relative to another display device 60 or an array rowand/or column of the display devices 60.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to theprecise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of thepresent invention. The embodiments were chosen and described to explainthe principles of the present invention and its practical application toenable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention invarious embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting system, comprising: a surface bracketconfigured to operatively attach to a mounting surface; at least one armassembly operatively connected to the surface bracket; a mount bracketoperatively connected to the surface bracket via the at least one armassembly, the mount bracket translatable towards and away from thesurface bracket along an axis substantially perpendicular to a planedefined by the mounting surface via adjustment of the at least one armassembly; and at least one device bracket assembly removably andoperably connected to the mount bracket, each of the at least one devicebracket assembly comprising: a mount engagement bracket selectivelyengagable with the mount bracket, the mount engagement bracket having amount surface, a device bracket configured to operatively attach to adisplay device, the device bracket movably and operatively connected tothe mount engagement bracket and including a device bracket surfaceconfigured to attach to the display device, and a plurality ofpositioner assemblies configured to selectively adjust the devicebracket relative to the mount engagement bracket, wherein a firstselective adjustment of the plurality of positioner assemblies resultsin a translation of the device bracket relative to the mount engagementbracket such that a distance between the device bracket surface and themount surface is altered, and wherein a second selective adjustment ofthe plurality of positioner assemblies results in a tilting of thedevice bracket relative to the mount engagement bracket.
 2. The mountingsystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one device bracket assemblycomprises a pair of device bracket assemblies.
 3. The mounting system ofclaim 1, wherein each of the at least one device bracket assemblyfurther comprises a mount positioner, the mount positioner movablyassociated with the mount engagement bracket such that adjustment of themount positioner results in a translation of the mount engagementbracket in a direction substantially parallel to the plane defined bythe mounting surface.
 4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein foreach of the at least one device bracket assembly, the mount positioneris rotatably associated with the mount engagement bracket, and whereinrotation of the mount positioner results in the translation of the mountengagement bracket in the direction substantially parallel to the planedefined by the mounting surface.
 5. The mounting system of claim 1,wherein the at least one arm assembly comprises a pair of armassemblies.
 6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein each of the pairof arm assemblies includes a first arm and a second arm, the first armand the second arm pivotally connected to each other at a locationproximate the midpoint of the first arm and the midpoint of the secondarm.
 7. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a servicestrut configured to move between a first position, where the displaydevice is positioned in a viewing orientation, and a second position,where the display device is positioned in a service orientation suchthat adjustments may be made to a rear side of the display device.
 8. Amounting system, comprising: a surface bracket configured to operativelyattach to a mounting surface; a mount bracket operatively connected tothe surface bracket; and a plurality of device bracket assembliesremovably and operably connected to the mount bracket, each of theplurality of device bracket assemblies comprising: a mount engagementbracket selectively engagable with the mount bracket, a device bracketconfigured to operatively attach to a display device, the device bracketmovably and operatively connected to the mount engagement bracket andincluding a device bracket surface configured to attach to the displaydevice, a first bracket positioner assembly being rotatably associatedwith the mount engagement bracket and configured such that rotation of afirst portion of the first bracket positioner assembly increases adistance between a first portion of the device bracket relative to themount engagement bracket in a direction substantially perpendicular to aplane defined by the mounting surface, and a second bracket positionerassembly being rotatably associated with the mount engagement bracketand configured such that rotation of a first portion of the secondbracket positioner assembly increases a distance between a secondportion of the device bracket relative to the mount engagement bracketin the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by themounting surface, wherein the first portion of the first bracketpositioner assembly and the first portion of the second bracketpositioner assembly are independently rotatable, and whereincorresponding rotation of the first portion of the first bracketpositioner assembly and the first portion of the second bracketpositioner assembly in the same orientation results in a translationalmovement of the device bracket relative to the mount engagement bracket.9. The mounting system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality ofdevice bracket assemblies further comprise a mount positioner rotatablyassociated with the mount engagement bracket such that rotation of themount positioner results in a translation of the mount engagementbracket in a direction substantially parallel to the plane defined bythe mounting surface.
 10. The mounting system of claim 8, furthercomprising a plurality of arm assemblies operatively connected to thesurface bracket, the plurality of arm assemblies configured to extendbetween an extended position and a retracted position relative to thesurface bracket along an axis substantially perpendicular to a planedefined by the mounting surface, and wherein the mount bracket isoperatively connected to the surface bracket via the plurality of armassemblies.
 11. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein the pluralityof arm assemblies each include a first arm and a second arm, the firstarm and the second arm pivotally connected to each other at a locationproximate the midpoint of the first arm and the midpoint of the secondarm.
 12. A mounting system, comprising: a surface bracket configured tooperatively attach to a mounting surface; a mount bracket operativelyconnected to the surface bracket; and a plurality of device bracketassemblies removably and operably connected to the mount bracket, eachof the plurality of device bracket assemblies comprising: a mountengagement bracket selectively engagable with the mount bracket, themount engagement bracket having a mount surface, a device bracketconfigured to operatively attach to a display device, the device bracketmovably and operatively connected to the mount engagement bracket andincluding a device bracket surface configured to attach to the displaydevice, and a plurality of positioner assemblies configured toselectively adjust the device bracket relative to the mount engagementbracket, each positioner assembly having a first portion engaged with asecond portion, wherein a first selective adjustment of the plurality ofpositioner assemblies results in a translation of the device bracketrelative to the mount engagement bracket such that a distance betweenthe device bracket surface and the mount surface is altered, and whereina second selective adjustment of the plurality of positioner assembliesresults in a tilting of the device bracket relative to the mountengagement bracket.
 13. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein thefirst portion threadedly engages with the second portion.
 14. Themounting system of claim 13, wherein a positioner assembly of theplurality of positioner assemblies extends through an opening of themount engagement bracket.
 15. The mounting system of claim 14, whereinthe first portion of the positioner assembly extending through theopening of the mount engagement bracket is rotatable relative to themount engagement bracket.
 16. The mounting system of claim 12, whereinthe plurality of device bracket assemblies comprises a left side devicebracket assembly and a right side bracket assembly, wherein the firstselective adjustment of the plurality of positioner assemblies of one ofthe left side device bracket assembly or the right side bracket assemblyresults in a pivoting of a display device operatively attached to theleft side device bracket assembly and the right side bracket assemblyrelative to the mounting surface.
 17. The mounting system of claim 12,further comprising a plurality of arm assemblies operatively connectedto the surface bracket, the plurality of arm assemblies configured toextend between an extended position and a retracted position relative tothe surface bracket along an axis substantially perpendicular to a planedefined by the mounting surface, and wherein the mount bracket isoperatively connected to the surface bracket via the plurality of armassemblies.
 18. The mounting system of claim 12, further comprising aservice strut configured to move between a first position, where thedisplay device is positioned in a viewing orientation, and a secondposition, where the display device is positioned in a serviceorientation such that adjustments may be made to a rear side of thedisplay device.
 19. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein eachpositioner assembly of the plurality of positioner assemblies has afirst portion engaged with a second portion.
 20. The mounting system ofclaim 18, wherein the first portion threadedly engages with the secondportion.